Politics
Presidency, APC React As El-Rufai Criticises Party, Urges United Opposition
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has knocked former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, for accusing the party of poor leadership and encouraging opposition parties to set aside their differences and form a united front ahead of the 2027 election.
This was as the presidency accused the APC chieftain of treachery over how he had been dragging the Federal Government and the ruling party recently.
Mallam el-Rufai had described the state of governance and opposition in the country as a “national emergency” at a conference in Abuja on strengthening democracy in Nigeria on Monday.
The former governor also lamented the lack of internal democracy and active party structures within the APC, saying, “I no longer recognise the APC. No party organ has met in two years—no caucus, no NEC, nothing. You don’t even know if it is a one-man show; it’s a zero-man show.”
Mallam El-Rufai urged political parties to set higher standards for candidates and delegates, noting that the constitution’s minimum requirement of a secondary school certificate should not suffice for party nominations.
Reflecting on the APC’s foundation, Mallam El-Rufai said the ruling party was originally established to combat corruption, rebuild the economy, and enhance security.
He, however, said the goals had been abandoned.
The APC chieftain, therefore, urged opposition parties to unite and form a broad based coalition to challenge the ruling party and protect democracy.
He alleged that the crises within the opposition parties were being orchestrated by sponsored mercenaries.
“There are internal mercenaries in the PDP, hired and motivated to destroy the party. The Labour Party is also facing similar issues. Peter Obi himself told me, ‘I don’t know what’s happening in the party I contested with.’
“There seems to be a deliberate project to destroy opposition parties. This is dangerous. For those of us who lived half our lives under military rule, we know what it is. We don’t want military rule, but we also don’t want civilians behaving like the military in their babbarriga and suits.
“This is a national emergency, and we must act before history repeats itself,” Mallam El-Rufai said..
In a scatting reaction via a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, expressed disappointment, saying Mallam El-Rufai’s remarks would have been different if he had been in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.
He tweeted, “My Senior brother if you were to be in the government and cabinet, would you have held and expressed the same position?
“History is replete with examples. It is a government you participated in its formation, that you now want to unseat. Haba Mallam, a Ji soron Allah mana.”
Similarly, the National Publicity Director of the APC, Bala Ibrahim, said Mallam El-Rufai would have done well by channelling his concerns and observations to the party leadership instead of always seeking to denigrate it in public.
Mr Ibrahim, however, added that the former governor was entitled to his opinion.
He said, “The beauty of democracy is that it gives people the right to express their own opinion. El-Rufai, as an individual, party member, former governor, ex-minister, and a well-respected politician, is entitled to his opinion. But that is not to say that is exactly what is happening in the APC.
“It’s all a question of views, perspectives and circumstances surrounding issues. I wouldn’t want to go deep into the internal issues of the party, and the position of El-Rufai today with regard to the party. But I can assure you, the APC is a listening party. The APC, under the leadership of Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, gives people the chance to ventilate their views.
“If there is any grouse or any misunderstanding, he always gives people the chance to come and talk. So, El-Rufai knows best how to channel this complaint, and if there are certain things he wants done to sanitise what he feels is going wrong, he knows what to do. I can assure you, the party will give him the listening ear.”
Meanwhile, opposition parties in the country have hailed Mallam El-Rufai, saying the ruling APC had abandoned its campaign manifestos and promises to Nigerians.
The Tide source reports that Prof. Akinoso was elected alongside 38 other executive members of the party at the congress held on Saturday.
Other executive members are Dr Abiola Olaonipekun, who emerged as Secretary, Alhaja Latifah Latifu, Women Leader and Mr A. Adeleke, elected as Youth Leader.
It was learnt that the congress, which took place at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Oke Ado in Ibadan, was attended by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Police, other security agencies and prominent members of the party.
The election was supervised by electoral committee members, among whom were Prince Diran Odeyemi, who served as Chairman, Hon. Awoniyi Tolulope, Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, Queen Stepheine Oyechere, Alhaji Yusuf Abidakun, Mr Olumide Aguda and Dr Phillips Adeniyi, who served as Secretary.
Prof. Akinoso, in his inaugural address, urged members of the party to set aside intra-party differences.
He advised them to concentrate their resources on the promotion of the party, saying, “The primary responsibilities of party executive members are to coordinate party activities, ensure harmony among members, and ensure party victory during general elections.
“Our immediate assignments are to key into INEC released 2027 general election time-tables. As directed by the National Caretaker Committee of PDP, our party e-membership registration starts next week. We must be fully involved and do a membership drive.
“A political party is only relevant and benefits its members if it wins the election. This is our goal. We should set aside intra-party differences; concentrate our resources towards the promotion of the party. We will make necessary consultations and dialogue to actualise this”.
President Tinubu disclosed this during an interfaith breaking of fast with senior journalists and media executives at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Saturday.
He also disclosed that his administration had opened up on the principles of true federalism to the extent that local governments now get direct allocation from the Federal Government.
“There’s no morning that I ever leave my house without going through the newspapers. It’s an addiction. I read all of you.
“It might not be in full detail, but headline, the one that would hit me and the ones that won’t.
“At the beginning of this administration, I was just a little bit stubborn, looking at opportunities to correct things and make life more easier for the downtrodden.
“We’ve opened up the principle of federalism to the extent that local governments are now getting their money, but how they use it is in your hands. So, don’t bombard me alone,” President Tinubu said.
The ruling party said the ADC had turned criticism of the APC-led administration into its operating manifesto instead of presenting concrete solutions to Nigeria’s economic challenges.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, the party dismissed the ADC’s interpretation of a report presented at a policy dialogue organised by Agora Policy which suggested that the country’s poverty rate had risen from 49 per cent to 63 per cent.
Mr Morka said the opposition party’s reaction to the report as a “damning verdict” on the government’s economic policies reflected either ignorance of economic realities or deliberate political mischief.
“The African Democratic Congress’ attempt to spin a recent report presented at the Agora Policy dialogue indicating a rise of poverty rate of 63 per cent from 49 per cent as a damning verdict on this administration’s economic policies speaks either to its shocking ignorance of economic policy or its wilful blindness to the justification for, and transformative impacts of, ongoing economic reforms,” he said.
The APC spokesman noted that the report itself recognised the necessity of reforms aimed at correcting long-standing structural distortions in the economy.
According to him, the ADC had failed to present any credible alternative policy direction for Nigerians.
“Clearly, the ADC does not recognise itself as a political party. The ADC has not articulated a single alternative policy position or prescription of benefit to Nigerians. Condemning the APC and its policies has become its operating manifesto,” Mr Morka said.
He explained that major economic decisions taken by President Bola Tinubu, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of multiple foreign exchange windows, were necessary steps to rescue the country’s economy from collapse.
Mr Morka said the subsidy regime had for years placed a heavy burden on public finances, consuming trillions of naira annually while encouraging corruption, fuel smuggling and inefficiencies in the system.
He added that the reforms had helped redirect national resources to key sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education and social development.
The APC spokesman acknowledged that economic reforms often come with short-term hardship but stressed that the measures were essential to build a stronger and more resilient economy.
“Economic reform is never cost-free anywhere in the world. The transient hardship experienced by Nigerians was an inevitable cost of reforms meant to build and guarantee a better future for all Nigerians,” he said.
Mr Morka maintained that the country’s economic outlook was already improving, citing recent growth figures and stronger external reserves.
“Our economy has rebounded and is expanding steadily. The country’s Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.4 per cent last year and is projected to expand by 5.5 per cent this fiscal year, with foreign reserves now exceeding $50 billion,” he stated.
He also pointed to government initiatives designed to cushion the effects of economic adjustments on citizens, including cash transfer programmes, student loan schemes and the rollout of compressed natural gas (CNG) initiatives to reduce transportation costs.
Mr Morka reaffirmed that the APC-led administration would remain focused on rebuilding the economy and expanding social investments to support vulnerable Nigerians.
-
News4 days agoNavy Destroys Illegal Refinery In Rivers, Intercepts Stolen Fuel In C’ River
-
News4 days agoYou’re The Backbone Of Our Society, Fubara Salutes Mothers On Mothering Sunday
-
Rivers4 days agoCounty Grammar School Old Boys Elect New Executive
-
Environment4 days agoIllegal Buildings On Embassies’ Land Will Be Demolished – Wike
-
Politics4 days agoHUNDREDS OF LATE BAYELSA DEP GOV’S KINSMEN DUMP PDP FOR APC
-
Politics4 days agoA’Court Voids Rep’s Sack Over Defection To APC
-
Politics4 days agoYou’re Misleading Nigerians, APC Slams ADC Over Poverty Rate Report
-
Niger Delta4 days agoLawyer X-rays Consequences Of Court Injuction Suspending INC Polls … As Diri Intervenes